SSN is a digest of the day's soccer/football/futbol articles with a focus on the top European leagues and the United States National Team. Below, you’ll find links to articles and video, as well as additional features and commentary. We locate the top news of the day so you can stay updated with ease.

Laurent Dubois is the Marcello Lotti Professor of Romance Studies and History at Duke University. He recently published "Soccer Empire: The World Cup and the Future of France," and is founding editor of the Soccer Politics Blog.

Fabregas said: "The best moment for me at the World Cup so far was that nail biting end when the USA scored in the last minute against Algeria. It was an incredible finale and was the most memorable one for me.

While Italy pack their bags and head for home, attention turns to the final set of group games which will finalise the second round line-up. Spain will be hoping not to follow Marcello Lippi's side on the traipse back to Europe, but they must do the necessary against Chile this afternoon to ensure their tournament doesn't end here. Switzerland face Honduras in the group's other game, where Ottmar Hitzfeld's side will have to overcome their default conservatism and go on the attack.

Group H is ostensibly decided, but Brazil and Portugal will scrap it out for top spot. Carlos Queiroz's side's seven goal demolition of North Korea essentially rules Ivory Coast out of the running for a place in the next round.

Ghana lost 1-0 to Germany on Wednesday at Soccer City Stadium, but within seconds of the final whistle, the Black Stars were celebrating. A group of players ran to the stands, grabbed a Ghanaian flag from some fans and did a victory lap. The loss mattered little to Ghana. Once the Black Stars received the news that Australia had defeated Serbia 2-1, they knew they were through to the Round of 16 as the first (and likely only) African team to advance.

I admit it, there were times in the past decade when I looked at Landon Donovan and saw Ryan Seacrest in cleats. Here was a young U.S. player who had all the technical ability in the world but would wilt if someone sweated on him too hard or would throw a hissy fit if his teammates weren't up to his appreciation of his own excellence.

ESPN said 1.1 million people watched at least some of the USA's 1-0 win as it was streamed on ESPN3.com Wednesday. The match, which was also watched on ESPN by 6.2 million people, lasted from 10 a.m. to noon ET, during working hours for most of the United States.

Marcello Lippi's side go into their tie against Slovakia on two points, level with New Zealand, but two points behind group leaders Paraguay. In Group E, Netherlands have already secured a place in the second round, and either Japan or Denmark will join them in what is essentially a knockout game in Rustenburg this evening.

Donovan and “Rules of Engagement” star Bianca Kajlich had an emotional telephone conversation in the early hours of Thursday morning after he had blown her an on-camera kiss just moments after scoring the winner against Algeria.

The plane chartered by the French Federation landed at Le Bourget business airport, 20 km north of Paris, after a 15-hour flight from South Africa. A smattering of supporters were kept at a distance and dozens of photographers, cameramen and journalists were penned behind a wire fence

Freddy Adu is heading back to Greece this week, his mind already on Brazil.

While definitely disappointed to be left off the U.S. roster for the World Cup in South Africa, the 21-year-old former phenom is focusing on the 2014 tournament after starting to revive his career this year at the Greek club Aris Thessaloniki.

In South Africa, Brazil are reproducing the form that lead them, along with Spain, to be considered pre-tournament favourites. What might be more of a shock is that Brazil are leading such a strong contingent from their own continent. With an accumulated seven wins and two draws, this has been South America's World Cup so far.

A French minister reduced the country's disgraced World Cup stars to tears as she gave them a dressing down over their tantrums ahead of their final group game on Tuesday.

With the whole of France outraged at the antics of the millionaire footballers in refusing to train and threatening to boycott the match against South Africa, Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot said she had told the players they are a "moral disaster"."They applauded me and they were crying," Bachelot said of the encounter at the team camp on Monday night.

Monday, June 21, 2010

"What's tragicomic is the referee's smile afterwards. When I scored the goal against England, I didn't see the referee laugh. He had so many doubts, he looked at his linesmen, there was no fourth referee at that time, he looked at the crowd to see if they gave him a hand.